behavioural issues with a new puppy??

Tony21 · Dec 10, 2015

Me and my girlfriend are planning on getting a new puppy for Christmas for eachother, we were both dog owners at one point before we moved in together so we know what we're getting into on that part. So my questions is, what kind of behavioural issues might we be getting into with our sun conure (mango)? Is it really a good idea to get another dog, or will this cause problems? What is the best way to minimize any stress that may come?

My girlfriends has had him for almost 3 years now, and we don't want to cause him stress. The person we got him from had small dogs and they didn't seem to have problems. My girlfriend also had a dog when she lived at home, but she was not good with mango so we just put her away when he was out. I don't want to have this issue here, as it's not fair to either the bird or the dog!

Mango is in the "pets room" with all the others, so he won't be stuck in the same room as the dog when know one is home. Are hope socialize the 2 to be okay with eachother (they don't needn't be best buds, just be okay with eachother in the same room).

So what are your thoughts?

sonja · Dec 11, 2015

Many of us have dogs and birds, including myself. My dogs ignore the birds unless the birds are eating and drop some food on the floor - the dogs helpfully clean it up for me. It is not considered to be a good idea to have the bird and dog make "friends". It only takes a second for the much larger dog to kill the bird. And if you search the forums you will find many stories of it happening. A puppy is going to want to play with the bird if they are introduced - and a playing puppy will kill a bird, even if it's just an accident.
So, just be careful. Don't let the bird out with the dog loose in the room.
Also, some breeds of dogs have a higher prey drive than others - depending on what kind of dog you get there could be a predisposition to be more interested in getting to the bird than another breed.
If you want to minimize problems, for the bird and for you, adopt an adult dog! One that you can see has a calm demeanor. Adult dogs are awesome - honestly, puppies suck! Adult dogs still want to walk and run and play as much as you do, but they are also content to sit on the sofa and watch a movie. Puppies don't sit still - if you are watching a movie, they are off chewing up your shoe!
If you want to minimize everyone's stress, adopt a nice adult dog!
Good luck.

JerseyWendy · Dec 11, 2015

BAHAHAHAHA, Sonja @ "Adult dogs are awesome - honestly, puppies suck!"

Loved and agree with everything Sonja said, except the part that puppies 'suck'. I LOVE puppies, especially if they belong to someone else.

My youngest 'puppy' is now 5 years old (gees...time flew by), and yes, she was THE most energetic puppy I have ever seen in my entire life. :11:

Mimsy01 · Dec 11, 2015

LOL I'm another who would not do puppies again. I've had 6 dogs total in my life, 1 puppy. That puppy was a monster.

My two dogs right now are old and have health issues. If I decide to get another some day after they are gone it will be an adult, with a low prey drive. Prey drive is not always something you can train out of them. I've been lucky, even with the puppy who grew up to be a good dog, that none of my dogs have had any desire to hurt smaller creatures. But that is my biggest fear with dogs, getting one that happens to have strong instincts to hunt. I want all my animals to be comfortable in the house and though I don't let them hang out when I'm not home, they can all be out together when I am home and I don't have any worries. They would probably be fine even if I wasn't...but better safe than sorry there.

Getting an older dog from a rescue who also has small animals, at least cats, you might get some insight about the personality.

If you guys are dead set on a puppy, I'd pick a breed with a low prey drive.

Tony21 · Dec 11, 2015

sonja said:
Many of us have dogs and birds, including myself. My dogs ignore the birds unless the birds are eating and drop some food on the floor - the dogs helpfully clean it up for me. It is not considered to be a good idea to have the bird and dog make "friends". It only takes a second for the much larger dog to kill the bird. And if you search the forums you will find many stories of it happening. A puppy is going to want to play with the bird if they are introduced - and a playing puppy will kill a bird, even if it's just an accident.
So, just be careful. Don't let the bird out with the dog loose in the room.
Also, some breeds of dogs have a higher prey drive than others - depending on what kind of dog you get there could be a predisposition to be more interested in getting to the bird than another breed.
If you want to minimize problems, for the bird and for you, adopt an adult dog! One that you can see has a calm demeanor. Adult dogs are awesome - honestly, puppies suck! Adult dogs still want to walk and run and play as much as you do, but they are also content to sit on the sofa and watch a movie. Puppies don't sit still - if you are watching a movie, they are off chewing up your shoe!
If you want to minimize everyone's stress, adopt a nice adult dog!
Good luck.

I have been trying to convince my girlfriend to get an older dog, but she's stuck on a puppy! She used to breed, so she knows the puppy ways hahaha, as do I which is why I would have choosen an older dog.

JerseyWendy said:
BAHAHAHAHA, Sonja @ "Adult dogs are awesome - honestly, puppies suck!"

Loved and agree with everything Sonja said, except the part that puppies 'suck'. I LOVE puppies, especially if they belong to someone else. My youngest 'puppy' is now 5 years old (gees...time flew by), and yes, she was THE most energetic puppy I have ever seen in my entire life. :11:

Glad to know so many people have dogs! She had one when she first got the bird, and the dog wasn't fond of the bird!

ToMang07 · Dec 11, 2015

It all depends on the dog, but I have 2 German Shepherds in the house and 5 cats...none of which bother the bird.

Tony21 · Dec 11, 2015

Well I would much rather an older dog, as I know the trouble a puppy will get into. The girlfriend on the other hand is dead set on the puppy idea. Right now we are looking at AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD/BORDER COLLIE MIX, Lab/Australian Shepherd/ Blue Heeler/Father is Lab mix, husky, German Shepherd, Lab/coonhound mix, and a few others.

MosaicMadness · Dec 12, 2015

I agree that it depends upon the dog AND the bird. I have a Pekingese (stray) that is fine with everyone and everything (dogs, cats, kids, rabbits, chickens, etc.) and a husky and we've had since she was 7 weeks old, 11 years old now and I wouldn't trust her any farther than I could throw her (she's about 60 lbs). She is fine with dogs of all sizes, cats it depends on the cat, birds in cages she is fine with amazons and smaller BUT she could NOT resist my macaw. The macaw would perch on the door staring at her and she would make a lunge to grab that big beautiful tail for those long feathers! She did it with a huge grin on her face, she wasn't doing it to "hurt" the bird, but her type of play wouldn't have been good. Luckily the way our house is set up we have a main level and a separate split level we can close off to keep dogs and "others" separate. Good luck. PS- if the breed has a lot of prey-drive, age won't really help but so much.

sonja · Dec 14, 2015

Most of the breeds you are looking at are herding or hunting dogs - chances are they will be more interested in the bird that other breeds. And huskies just like to kill anything small - very high prey drives. I don't say this to be negative about huskies - I've done husky rescue for close to 18 years and I have 5 of my own. And I can't tell you how many stories we hear about huskies killing small animals.
Is someone home at your house most of the time? If not, get an older dog.
Do you have a high tolerance for things getting peed on, pooped on, chewed up, and do you enjoy getting up in the middle of the night in the rain to go for walks? If not, get an older dog.
Do you have the time and interest to really exercise a dog hard and for long periods of time every day? The breeds you have listed are mostly working breeds and if not worked, will wreak havoc in your home simply to burn off their extra energy.
I've had countless dogs of my own and fosters come through my house over the years and I swore I would never take in another dog under 5 years old. Well, an 11 month old that was going to be euthed picked me as his mama, and I adore him, and rue the day I met him, every single day!

behavioural issues with a new puppy??

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